The great pat testing scam

[UNG]

"
These 50p a test boys will find themselves coming unstuck soon, and it won't be the clients being fined, it will be the PAT companies doing the work. Directors & Engineers.

While the PAT company may be liable the client would IMO be liable also for placing an order for the sub standard work and not checking it is up to the required standard

 

[Liberator]

I agree that they should be partly held responsible, but by rights if they can prove that they thought they were hiring a competent, insured outside company to handle this aspect of their health and safety then it's the pat company that us responsible.

After all, if u agree to test and inspect 120,000 appliances for a big company or council at 50p a test then that pat company surely must be competent and no judge would see differently.

Just the fact that a company advertised as a pat provider demonstrates fraudulent intent if the end result is that Pat testing is carried out correctly.

Hawkesworth protect themselves by ensuring that every pat test engineer are "self-employed" but they will come unstuck because the definition of self employed is that u can accept or refuse work whenever u choose an that u don't just work for one employer.

Hawkesworth tells u that you're working 6 days a week, and doesn't really help u understand all of the implications of being self-employed.

If he ever comes under scrutiny by the taxman or the work of "his" engineers ever comes to light, all of his hard work and lovely profit will be for nothing.

 

[UNG]

I agree that they should be partly held responsible, but by rights if they can prove that they thought they were hiring a competent, insured outside company to handle this aspect of their health and safety then it's the pat company that us responsible.

After all, if u agree to test and inspect 120,000 appliances for a big company or council at 50p a test then that pat company surely must be competent and no judge would see differently.

I think if some one was letting a £60,000 contract then I assume they would undertake "Due Diligence" on the company being employed to undertake that work. At 50p per appliance I would certainly be wary if I was letting a contract, even with the current economic situation you don't hear of the pound shops discounting to 50p for some of the tat they sell

I have always been told ignorance is no defence

Just the fact that a company advertised as a pat provider demonstrates fraudulent intent if the end result is that Pat testing is carried out correctly.

Again this is an area dicussed quite a lot on this forum with the "Visual Check" being accepted as the lowest form of PAT test when no actual testing takes place

Hawkesworth protect themselves by ensuring that every pat test engineer are "self-employed" but they will come unstuck because the definition of self employed is that u can accept or refuse work whenever u choose an that u don't just work for one employer.

Hawkesworth tells u that you're working 6 days a week, and doesn't really help u understand all of the implications of being self-employed.

If he ever comes under scrutiny by the taxman or the work of "his" engineers ever comes to light, all of his hard work and lovely profit will be for nothing.

The tax investigation team are only a phone call away!

 

[Burnt Fingers]

Just to clarify, in case a lynch mob is on it's way, my reference to "bogus courses" was exclusive of the C&G - I referred to the type that have eight people being taught at £200 a go, one day, ten questions (you can ask for help) and discount PAT testers on the way out.

Sorry if any C&G Holders were offended, was not meant to ..

 

[RexT]

Hi Burnt Fingers,

Thank you for your comments and I am not offended by what you have said. I believe the important thing is that the person who does the testing does it correctly and ensures safety. I have taught the 2377 course at college, as well as the 2391 and the certificates that City and Guilds supply, in my opinion, are of value.
When someone has passed a course and an exam, it is only when they operate in the 'wide world' that the truth emerges. The people can be seduced by the money and pressured in to doing things that are not correct and are 'short cuts' which can result in the tested products not being tested correctly. The time versus the number of items tested is normally one pressure as well as the competition offered by those who do not test correctly and have been referred to as 'label stickers'.
My advice is not to join the label stickers club and to try to charge correctly for the work you do. I know its tough but at least you can sleep at night and hopefully the good guys will win.
Best wishes,
Rex

 

[PAT Testing]

You clearly had a bad experience with this pat tester, not all pat testing companies are the same, message from PAT Testing | PAT Testing in London | Cheap PAT Testing Prices | PAT testing Prices

 

[telectrix]

I do some PAT testing , not a lot, and try to do it right. One day I timed myself for 1 hour, proper test, fill in label, enter details on report sheet. I did 12 appliances. Based on a sensible hourly rate of £20 - £25, that equates at £2 per item approx. Anyone doing it at for 50p to 70p per item is either not doing it properly or has a very cheap lifestyle.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I agree telectrix......the above link looks very professional....but IMO it is not possible to charge 70p an appliance,do a thorough job, and earn a living.

 

[RexT]

Hi wirepuller,

You are quite right about your comment. Its right to do a thorugh job and earn a living. When it goes wrong is where people find out the fasct that has been no savings doing it 'on the cheap and missing out some bits'.
As I said I hope we keep the job right and keep the trade.
Best wishes
Rex

 

[PAT ukLtd]

I work as a mobile Dj and before looking into PAT Testing the guy I used had one of these 'Supermarket Type' guns to provide the stickers, however it only had on it the date of the test and an item id number, no initials or any other info, i'm sure this wouldn't meet the legal requirements. To his credit he did actually test each bit of my equipment,and failed a couple of extension leads and changed some fuses, but maybe it was because I was standing in the same room making him a cuppa. Anyway only probably took 90 mins for I think was £90-£95. He was telling me about a large job he had been on in Bolton for several days and I wonder out of sight if he would just label equipment without testing......what I want to know is how do these Label only cowboys get on when it comes to producing the paperwork. My test sheets all show the readings of each test result.....so do they make them up?